Homeless families still take refuge at Government New LPS Purakad School

ALAPPUZHA: Despite the allocation of Rs 4.74 crore for their rehabilitation, 79 homeless people in coastal areas are still in limbo.  Eight families staying at New Lower Primary School, Purakad, since 2012, say they don’t expect a home before it reopens. The allocation came in April last year after prolonged struggles by those living in camps and rented houses. The government had promised Rs 10 lakh each to families for a 600 sqft home in three cents.

C.P. Anirudhan, deputy director, fisheries, blamed it on revenue department for anomalies in issuing land value certificates. It got momentum after district collector intervened and settled 35 cases.  But he was unable to assure their return soon. “The department is striving hard to implement the project as early as possible," he said.

According to revenue officials, the process of issuing land value certificates got delayed due to confusion over fair and market values. “The collector recently decided to go by market value. That allows beneficiaries to choose three cents worth Rs 6 lakh freely. Following this, many reported with the market value of the property they had chosen," said a revenue official.

Bindu Shaji, the member of 18th ward of the panchayat from where many people figure on the list, said the beneficiaries who submitted their papers got no official information so far. She says many deserved people are still out of the list. Saraswathy, a refugee at the New School, says only three families got their paper cleared so far.  “We all are on the list," she says.  “We have submitted all papers. Officials have to speed up the project now."